PETERS SEEKS MEDAL FOR SALLY RIDE

On the 30th anniversary of Sally Ride becoming the first American woman in space, Rep. Scott Peters on Tuesday introduced legislation calling for her to be posthumously given a Congressional Gold Medal.

Peters, D-San Diego, said Ride deserves the honor for more than just her career as an astronaut. “Ride was also a lifelong educator, public servant, research scientist, children’s book author and advocate for women in science,” Peters said in a statement.

He also said Ride should be recognized for bringing her technical expertise and experience to the classroom when she taught at the University of California San Diego starting in 1989.

The freshman lawmaker said his bill, which would bestow the highest award Congress can give a civilian, comes in conjunction with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography naming a research vessel after Ride.

Ride died July 23 from pancreatic cancer.

Besides becoming an astronaut and flying aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, which began its mission on June 18, 1983, she taught physics at UC San Diego and served as director of the California Space Institute. She also served on the commission that investigated the Challenger accident, in which the spacecraft broke apart shortly after liftoff in 1986.

Peters serves on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.